Word Origin & History

drastic 1690s, originally medical, "forceful, vigorous, especially in effect on bowels," from Gk. drastikos "effective," from drasteon "(thing) to be done," from dran "to do, act, perform." Sense of "extreme, severe" is first recorded 1808. Related: Drastically.

Example Sentences for drastic

But, seriously, many of the colleges represented here are facing challenges that may require some major and even drastic changes.

If it is not, more drastic action will be required, which might make a big dent in economic growth.

But scientists agree that drastic measures will be needed to avert the ocean crises being created by climate change.

We are rapidly running out of time to control and avoid drastic climate change.

In the less drastic scenario, lawn watering would be restricted to two days a week, if water supplies allow.

At any rate, it seemed possible for me to write full-time without a drastic a change in our lifestyle.

The report urges drastic policy changes to the ways in which natural resources are used.

Collapse of their populations could have drastic effects on all oxygen-breathing life on the planet.

City officials continue to oversee a drastic change in the town's economy: from coal mining to data mining.

The government points out that it has tried less drastic ways of reducing the tempo menace.